A city illuminated by the permeating glow of storefront signs, light escaping restaurant windows in endless narrow alleys, and the sun breaking through the overcast sky. It comes alive at night yet the bustling energy in daylight envelops you.
Taipei was the most unexpected destination on my journey documenting people and streets around the world. Coming from Vancouver, BC, Taipei is the layover destination for anyone on Canada’s West Coast flying to Asia. This time around, I stayed eight days over the 2024 New Year’s celebration.
I met some of my best friends on my journey so far, who I’m excited to reconnect with upon my coming move to London, England. While other Canadians have been few and far between in Asia, there has been no shortage of Brits that have made my trip unforgettable.
I challenged myself in Taipei to explore new mediums for street photography; I discovered that POV (point of view) video allowed me to express the images I create in a way that captures the flow I feel while shooting. I loved the way it contrasted scenes observed by the naked eye versus through the lens and post-processing.
I mounted a GoPro on the top of my camera in a way that doesn’t change how I shoot or how (I perceive) other people see me. The last thing I wanted to do was spoil the candid moments I’m capturing any more than my large (often hip-fired) camera body might.
The result is the most authentic video I’ve ever made. There’s no change to my rhythm nor an approach that feels disingenuous to me. This is who I am and how I spend all my time, now documented. This GoPro has become a staple in my camera bag for cities to come.
The music embodies me too, with my love for electronic beats and lo-fi. That said, I focus on staying present while shooting and leave the headphones at home – but editing to music and YouTube Boiler Room sets is my ideal workflow.
If this photography work resonates with you and you want to document the people of your own city, I invite you to read my guide about overcoming the awkwardness of street photography.
I invite you to watch my street photography video while you edit, work, or relax. The images beneath it, with an emphasis on landscape orientation, are designed to be scrolled on a desktop web browser or a smartphone turned sideways.
These are the faces, sidewalk scenes, and building facades that stood out to me at this moment for Taipei in early January 2024.
